Lakehurst and off-duty police work

Why this is published at all

New Jersey is the only state where you can look up what a patrol car costs on a detail, town by town, and the reason is statutory. The Attorney General and the Division of Local Government Services determined that municipal officers may work off duty for private parties — and state law then requires that the assignment be arranged by contract with the municipality, not with the officer. So the town has to set the price, and it sets it in an ordinance that anyone can read.

So what follows is not a policy manual. It is Lakehurst's own ordinance, and it says what the town charges.

What the ordinance charges

What the officer's time costs: officer compensation/rate to Borough established in Police contract; $100 nonrefundable application fee; $35/hour administrative fee covering municipal expenses including insurance, FICA, and vehicle/equipment use Hours: assignments limited to approved contract; ordinarily within municipality unless mutual aid or specific Chief approval

The car, and what it costs

The vehicle is priced separately: included within $35/hour administrative fee; no separate vehicle-only amount stated

Whether the car may go at all: with approval.

In the ordinance's own words: “an administrative fee of thirty-five ($35.00) dollars per hour to cover municipal expenses such as insurance, FICA, and vehicle or equipment use”

66 of the 141 New Jersey towns here price the car by the hour, from $5 to $60. Lakehurst sits above the middle of them at $35, with 59 charging less.

How the work is arranged

Who approves it: Chief of Police or designee How a job is arranged: Chief/designee executes approved agreement; requester deposits $500-$10,000 based on estimated personnel/equipment requirements into CFO escrow account How the officer is paid: requesting party pays Borough/escrow; exact officer disbursement mechanics not stated What is barred: Chief may terminate assignment for emergency response or unacceptable health/safety/welfare risk

Vehicles

Set by Lakehurst's own ordinance, which is how New Jersey prices off-duty police work — the town contracts with the employer, so the town sets the fee.

• included within $35/hour administrative fee; no separate vehicle-only amount stated

Every agency here, side by side on vehicles →

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Common questions

What does an off-duty Lakehurst police officer cost?

officer compensation/rate to Borough established in Police contract; $100 nonrefundable application fee; $35/hour administrative fee covering municipal expenses including insurance, FICA, and vehicle/equipment use

Does Lakehurst charge for the police vehicle?

included within $35/hour administrative fee; no separate vehicle-only amount stated

Who arranges an off-duty job in New Jersey?

The municipality. State law requires the assignment to be arranged by contract with the town rather than privately with the officer, which is why the town publishes a rate at all.